Sunday, June 26, 2005

The Original

Finally made it to 'ino in the West Village for brunch the other week. My first time there and it is tiny. About six tables and a few stools at the counter. We started off with a delicious sweet onion and cacio bruschetta, and I just had to have their truffled egg toast which I've had before at 'inotecca a few months back.

Brunch at 'ino
'ino's truffled egg toast & a side order of sweet onion & cacio bruschetta

The truffled egg toast is so yummy I had to make a version of it at home after I had it back in February. I added proscuitto to my version just to make it more interesting, and the aroma from a few splashes of truffle oil make it sooo tempting, it might be worthwhile to make extras.

Poached egg with asparagus, proscuitto and truffle oil
Not a bad interpretation if I do say so myself!!

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Huh? Flat White?

Interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald last week about finding a decent cup of coffee in New York City.

The article does have a point, the number of Starbucks in the city is scary, there's one on every corner! Ok I exaggerate, but there are a lot of them around. Personally, I reckon Dunkin Donuts has the worst coffee of all - brown, murky liquid in styrofoam cups adorned with their gaudy orange & pink logo. Too early in the morning to be looking at colours that bright me thinks!

The author recommends several places, a few of which I haven't heard of, though I agree Joe is a great spot. They also have the most delicious lemon poppy muffins there...yum! I walked past Ruby's on the weekend to have a look at the menu, and it looks great. I was expecting it to have a counter where you can order your coffee, but its more of a sit down and eat kind of place. Still, the Bondi burger will definitely have to be tried - a chicken burger with mayo and sweet chilli sauce. I can't mention enough how much I LOVE sweet chilli sauce (its up there with Praise mayonnaise!!).

The article goes on to describe the difference between a flat white and a cafe latte, and also mentions that the cafe lattes in the US are different to the lattes in Australia. I always thought the difference between the two was that flat whites use cold milk, and lattes use hot steamed milk. So now I'm even more confused!

Still, as long as the coffee's good and strong, who cares?

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Wi-fi (Or Rather, No wi-fi) – The Bane of My Existence

Ok, two weeks with no internet access at home is starting to have an effect on me. It's gotten to the point where I am now looking online at work for free wi-fi spots near my apartment. I’m somewhat shocked that there aren’t any - I had assumed that wireless access would be free at least in Starbucks, but silly me, even that was wishful thinking.

So now I’m stuck in limbo land, no wireless access at home and contemplating whether I should sign up for cable, buy a router etc etc. I know I'll have to eventually, but being the technophobe that I am it might take a while. Looking online now at what you need and how to sign up etc and I am so confused!!

All I have right now is a wireless card, we don't have a phone line at home so I have no idea how you're meant to connect, something to do with cable??

Yes I'm having a big blonde moment right now..hehehe